Boiler cleaner



- June 1932- F. BOWERS ET AL.

BOILER CLEANER Filed March 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E Iii l I I-I llllllll fl rman L. Snaur June 28, 1932. F. BOWERS ET AL 4 BOILER CLEANER Filed Marh 5, 1923 2 S e -S ee 2 fl argmm Z. 5 near \(RAWKMMA; NQ minim/ @Hcmcua nary to turning the Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK BOWERS AND NORMAN L. SNOW, OF

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO DIA- MIGND POXVEB SPECIALTY CORPORATION, OF DETRDXT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN BOILER CLEANER This invention relates to boiler cleaners and relates particularly to boiler cleaners employing the dischar e of steam or some other fluid to dislodge soot deposits from the boiler tubes and other parts.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a blower unit movable about its axis and having its fluid supply controlled by a disk valve adapted to maintain said supply during a predetermined portion of the blower movement and cutting off said supply during the balance of said movement.

A feature of the invention is a provision for automatically unseating said valve prelimisame so as to materially reduce the frictional resistance to such rotation.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a blower pipe equipped with the improved valve control and adjustment means;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View of the valve, the section being taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail cross section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing a feature of the valve control;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing an alternative construction;

Figure 5 is a cross section on Figure l.

In these views the reference character A designates a boiler wall and B a number of the boiler tubes. C is a rotative blower pipe mounted transversely of said tubes and passing through an opening C in said wall, said pipe being provided with suitable discharge nozzles C. Exteriorly of the wall A a chambered head D is mounted fast upon the pipe C, said head having its outer end closed and being formed with an inlet port D for steam or some other cleaning fluid. For rotating the blower pipe a shaft E is connected to the head D, said shaft having a squared extremity E longitudinally movable in a correspon ding socket in the closed end of said head. F designates a chain wheel for actuating the blower pipe, said wheel being screw threaded upon a reduced stud F formed upon the outer end of the shaft E. G and G desigline 5-5 of bers J and J, the latter being in constant 1923. Serial No. 623,031.

nate a pair of complementary members i forming a valve chamber into which the head D projects through a packed journal bearing G in the member G, said parts G and G be ing clamped in coacting relation by bolts H. Between the members G and G there is clamped a plate I having a steam port I in the form of a sector of said late. The plate I divides the valve casing G into chamcommunication with the blower pipe 0 through the port D and the former having a fluid supply pipe K opening thereinto. Within the chamber J a disk shaped valve member L is mounted fast upon the shaft E in close proximity to the plate I, said member preferably being welded upon said shaft. The valve member L has a sector portion removed therefrom, the radial marginal edges of said portion being indicated at M. When the blower pipe C is rotatively actuated by means of the chain wheel F and shaft E, the valve member L rotating with the shaft E closes communication between the chambers J and J except of registration with the port I of the opening formed in said valve member between the edges M thereof. Thus the size of the angle between the edges M accurately predetermines the arc of rotation of the blower pipe during which steam is discharged from the nozzles of said pipe. A portion of the surface of the disk I marginal to the port I is slightly raised, as indicated at N, to form a seat for the valve member L. Owing to the v considerable extent of said seat and to the considerable area of the valve member under a fluid pressure urging said member to said seat, a large frictional resistance would oppose turnlng of the valve member unless disengaged from its seat preliminary to rotation. The screw threaded mounting of the chain wheel F upon the outer end of the shaft E is for the purpose of efiecting the desired preliminary unseating of the valve member. Thus when the chain wheel is actuated to the right, said wheel initially turns upon the stud F, thus feeding inwardly relative to the shaft and exerting pressureupon a thrust bearing 0 to shift the shaft E outwardly during the interval and the valve member L clear of its seat. 0 is a yoke member rigidly projecting from the casing element G and forming a seat for the thrust bearing 0. When the blowing operation is completed it is necessary to shift the shaft E inwardly to again permit the valve member to properly seat. This inward actuation of said shaft is permitted by a slight reverse (or COIUItGP ClOCkWlSG) actuation of theehain wheel F whereby said chain wheel is turned upon the stud F and thus fed 0utwardly relative to the shaft to its normal position indicated in dash line and the shaft is urged inwardly by the fluid pressure. To prevent participation of the shaft E in the reverse travel of the chain wheel an ordinary ratchet disk P is mounted fast upon said shaft between the yoke O and casing G, G and a pawl P, mounted upon said yoke, is engageable with the teeth of said ratchet wheel. Thus when the-chain wheel is reversel-y actuated, the shaft is locked while the chain wheel is shifted upon said shaft to per- In-it the valve member to seat.

In the alternative form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 the blower pipe C ported valve seat I disk valve L and stem E the chain wheel F all correspond to the first described form of the invention. In this modification, however, a radially pro ject'ing lug L- is formed marginally upon the valve member 'L and is adapted to limit rotation of the valve member by engagement in the respective limiting positions with pins L and L projecting from the member 1 Thus in either of said limiting positions (as respectively indicated in dash lines and dotted lines in Figure 5) the valve member L closes the port I, said port being opened during a portion of an angular'movement predetermined by the location of the pins L and L. Inthis construction the chain wheel "is secured fast upon the stem E by a pin F.

It is a common feature of the several described alternative adjustment devices that the blower pipe with its fluid supply head is fixed with relation'to the boiler tubes to be cleaned rather than through attachment of said head to the boiler wall as in the prior practice.

The termsrotatable .or rotative, as employed in the specification and claims of this application signify revoluble through either a partial revolution or a plurality of revolu tions while the term boiler wherever used in the specification or claims is to be construed as meaning a heat-transfer apparatus vor fluid heater of any character, andthe term boiler cleaner .is ;to be construed as meaninga cleaner for any such apparatus.

What we claim as our iriventionisz- 1. In aboiler cleaner, the combination with a blower unit movable about its axis, of a valve casing having aported partition form- 'ing chambers into one of which said unit projects and with which it communicates, the other chamber having an inlet for the cleaning fluid, an actuating member for said unit passing through said second mentioned chamber, and a valve within said supply chamber controlling the port of said partition and movable about its axis.

2. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower unit movable about its axis, of a valve casing having a ported partition forming two chambers into one of which said unit extends and with which it communicates, the other chamber having an inlet for the cleaning fluid, an actuating member for said blower pipe passing through the fluid inlet chamber and movably engaging the blower pipe, and a valve member controlling the port of said partition and actuable by said actuating member.

3. In a boiler cleaner, the combination with a blower unit movable about its axis, of a valve casing with which said unit communicates, said casing having an inlet for a cleaning fluid, a valve seat member fixedly mounted within said valve casing a valve in said casing cooperating with said valve seat member to control the fluid supply to said blower pipe, and a common actuating member for said blower pipe and valve member slida'bly connected in said casing to the blower pipe.

4. In a boiler cleaning apparatus the combination with a. rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly including a hollow head and a plate-like valve member encased within said head and slidabl-y movable across the flow of steam for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, and common means for rotating said blower unit and moving said plate-like valve to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat.

5. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly 1ncluding -a hollow head and a valve member l encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against the-direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path of the steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and common means for rotating said blower unit and moving said valve, said means being adapted for successively moving said valve in the two said directions and in the order named.

6. The combination with a rotary blower an AU element and means for rotating the same, of a valve for controlling the admission of a cleaning fluid to said blower element, said valve being movable with said blower element and also movable relative thereto, and means for automatically moving the valve relative to the blower element to relieve the friction opposing an opening movement of said valve.

7 The combination with a rotatable blower element, of a valve controlling the admission of cleaning fluid thereto, said valve being rotatable in unison with said blower element to control the admission of cleaning fluid to the blower element and be ing also movable relative thereto, and means operable in timed relation to the rotation of said blower element for securing the relative movement of said valve and blower element, said means being arranged to permit an angular movement of said blower element through an angle equal at least, to 360 degrees.

8. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the

'a combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head as sembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head, a valve seat member Xedly mounted Within said head and a plate like valve member encased within said head arranged for cooperation with said valve seat member and slidably movable across the flow of steam for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve member being movable upon rotation of said blower unitto control the flow of steam to the blower unit.

9. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a plate like valve member encased within said head and slidably movable across the fiow of steam for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit and means controlled by the blower unit rotating means for moving said plate like valve to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat.

10. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path of steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means for rotating the blower unit and for moving said valve in the two said directions.

11. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path'of steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means for moving said valve in the two said directions successively in the order named and for rotating the blower unit.

12. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a rotary blower unit and a steam supply conduit therefor, of a headasv sembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly comprising a hollow head and a valve member encased within said head for controlling the supply of steam from said conduit to said blower unit, said valve being movable in two directions, one of said directions being against. the direction of the flow of steam to relieve the frictional engagement of the valve with its seat and the other of said directions being across the path of the steam to control the supply of steam to the blower unit, and means controlled by the blower unit rotating means for successively moving said valve in the two said directions and in the order named.

13. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a blower unit and a cleaning fluid supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower unit and so arranged. relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower unit;

14. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a blower unit and a cleaning fluid supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and blower unit, said assembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower unit and so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower unit, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through the said port.

15. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the 9 of the blower unit and so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction sub stantially parallel to the axis of the said blower unit, and a valve movable at right angles to the axis of the blower unit for controlling the flow of the cleaning fluid through the said port.

16. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a movable blower element having an enlarged chamber on one end and a port in the said chamber eccentric to the axis of the element, of a cleaning fluid supply conduit for the said element, a head assembly forming a connection between said conduitand said blower element, a ported member fixedly mounted in said head assembly, a Valve cooperating with said ported member for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through said head assembly, and means for moving said blower element and for actuating said valve. 17. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a blower element having an enlarged chamber on one end and a port in the said chamber eccentric to the axis of the element, of a cleaning fluid supply conduit for the said element, and a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower element, said assembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower element so arrange-d relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower element.

18. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a blower element closed at its ends having an enlarged chamber on one end and a port in the said chamber eccentric to the axis of the element, of a cleaning fluid supply conduit for the said element, and a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower element, said assembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the' blower element so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower element, and a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through the said ort. p 19. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a blower element having an enlarged chamber on one end and a port in the said chamber eccentric to the axis of the element, of a cleaning fluid supply conduit for the said element, and a head assembly forming a connection between said, conduit and said blower element, saidassembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower elements so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a directon substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower element, and a valve movable at right angles to the'axis oi? the blower element for controlling the flow of the cleaning fluid throughthe said port.

90. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination with a movable blower unit, and a cleaning fluid supply conduit therefor, of a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower unit, said assembly having a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower unit and so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the blower unit, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through said port, and a common means for actuating said valve and moving said blower unit.

21. In a boiler cleaning apparatus, the combination of a rotatable blower unit, a cleaning fluid supply conduit therefor, a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower unit, said as sembly having a relatively large port out of alignment with'the axis of the blower unit and so arranged relative to the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through said port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the said blower unit, a relatively large valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through said port, and a common means for rotating said blower unit and actuating said valve. v-

22. In a boiler cleaner, a rotatable blower unit having a laterally opening inlet port adjacent one end, a cleaning fluid supply conduit for said blower unit, a head assembly forming a connection between said conduit and said blower unit, said head assembly providing a chamber in which the ported end of said blower unit is positioned, means associated with said head assembly providing a port out of alignment with the axis of the blower unit and so arranged relativeto the blower unit that the cleaning fluid flows through the port in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the blower unit, a valve for controlling the flow of cleaning fluid through said last mentioned port, and a common means for actuating said valve and for rotating said blower unit.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

FRANK BOWERS. NORMAN L. SNOW. 

